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It used to be that only a few brands even made trail running shoes, let alone multiple models for multiple “occasions.” Now you can find the best pair of trail running shoes for sloppy conditions, the best pair of trail running shoes for road-to-trail, and even the best pair for climbing—as if any of us just climb.
But with greater choices comes a greater chance to get the perfect pair of trail runners, and as such, the gear editors at Outside have tested over 80 shoes over hundreds of miles of varied surfaces to find the best trail running shoes for every type of terrain. While they’ve narrowed their favorites down to 14 pairs in their comprehensive guide, we’ve culled the pile even further to present the six pairs that truly stand out in 2025 (so far).
Read on for the best trail running shoes of 2025 in each of the following categories:
- Best All-Around Trail Running Shoes
- Best Trail Super Shoes
- Best Trail Running Shoes for Ultrarunning
- Best Road-to-Trail Running Shoes
- Best Max-Cushioned Trail Running Shoes
- Best Trail Running Shoes with a Firm Ride
Best All-Around Trail Running Shoe
Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide
Weight: 10.2 oz (unisex)
Stack Height: 41–35 mm
Drop: 6 mm
Sizing: 4.5-13, 14 (men’s), 5.5-14, 15 (women’s)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Unmatched combo of comfort and trail performance
⊕ Quick-feeling for such a cushioned shoe
⊕ Outstanding grip
⊗ Quicklace system is difficult to adjust
Thick soles typically feel unstable on rocky, rooty trails, sloped surfaces, or sharp descents. But the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide defies expectations, delivering a surprising blend of cushioning, stability, and responsiveness. “I’m always a little wary of big-stack trail shoes because some of them feel mushy and slow, or even worse, unstable,” said one tester. “These were none of those. I felt like I nestled right into the soles and bounced right along.”
The combination of PEBA/EVA midsole and unique, wavy outsole works: The shoe delivered a soft, responsive, and adaptable ride that morphed over uneven terrain. “The shoe provided a smooth, supported run on a variety of terrains,” noted one tester, who was surprised that even when the footing got rocky, the S/Lab Ultra Glide “delivered a commanding performance, allowing for precise, responsive running.”
The soft-but-strong engineered mesh upper molded and moved with the contours of the foot, while providing a slight stretch for added toe box room up top, while four-millimeter lugs proved reliable down below—biting into packed dirt and loose gravel with ease.
Best Trail Super Shoe
Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra
Buy Women’s Now $220 Buy Men’s Now $220
Weight: 9.5 oz (men’s), 8.1 oz (women’s)
Stack Height: 38–30 mm
Drop: 8 mm
Sizing: 6-13, 14 (men’s), 5-11 (women’s)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Fast, smooth, and lively ride
⊕ Adaptive stability
⊗ Not great in really rocky terrain
Every Agravic Speed Ultra tester was in awe of how easily faster paces felt while wearing this shoe. “I consistently ran about 30 seconds per mile faster while running in these shoes than what the effort felt like,” said a masters tester.
Deep sculpted side walls surround a beveled heel, delivering smooth, secure landings, and a narrow midfoot waist widens to a generous, flared forefoot, providing an agile and stable stance. The aggressively rockered geometry from heel to toe delivers what one tester described as “a balanced ride that makes it easy to stay forward on my feet and drive backward with each stride, creating a quick, powerful push-off.”
For the outsole, Adidas uses the same trustworthy, grippy Continental rubber found on most of the brand’s running shoes. This trail-specific version features variable 2.5- to 3-millimeter lugs for surefooted, no-stress traction. As one might expect in a high-level racing shoe, the upper is kept to a minimum for weight reduction. Made with a non-stretch, breathable, quick-drying, woven material, we found it offered a secure, snug lockdown while providing a touch of abrasion protection.
Read Outside’s full review of the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra.
Best Trail Running Shoe for Ultrarunning
Hoka Tecton X 3
Buy Women’s Now $275 Buy Men’s Now $275
Weight: 10 oz (men’s), 7.9 oz (women’s)
Stack Height: 40–35mm (men’s); 39–34mm (women’s)
Drop: 5 mm
Sizes: Men’s 7-14, Women’s 5-11
Pros and Cons
⊕ Gaiter keeps out trail debris
⊕ Excellent balance of comfort and responsiveness
⊕ Doesn’t feel tippy, despite carbon fiber plates
⊗ Pricey
This third iteration of Hoka’s Tecton X is the best yet (and we’ve loved them all, awarding the debut model Gear of the Year in 2022). Like the first two, the Tecton X 3 features two carbon fiber plates within each shoe that sit parallel to each other, allowing them to move independently. This enables the shoe to morph over rocks and roots instead of tipping the foot, a sensation we’ve felt in some trail running shoes that utilize one large plate.
The Tecton X 3 also boasts a softer layer of PEBA foam above the plate and directly beneath the foot which testers reported enhances the joint-comforting cushion over long, rugged runs. The bottom layer of foam remains firmly responsive for a tactile ground feel.
And then there’s the unique upper. While some testers were skeptical of having a gaiter built into the shoe, it proved not only comfortable but also highly effective. A tester who worried the material around the ankle would annoy her reported, “The gaiter is stretchy and adds to the overall comfort and techy feel.” Every tester appreciated how the built-in gaiter kept debris out of the shoes with zero irritation or awkward clips.
Best Road-to-Trail Running Shoe
Nike Pegasus Trail 5
Buy Women’s Now $150 Buy Men’s Now $150
Weight: 10.6 oz (men’s), 8.6 oz (women’s)
Stack Height: 37–27.5 mm
Drop: 9.5 mm
Sizes: 6-15 (men’s) 5-12 (women’s)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Transitions well from asphalt to dirt
⊕ Secure fit for off-road confidence
⊕ Good-looking enough for casual wear
⊗ Not as cushioned as some other road-to-trail shoes
What puts the Nike Pegasus Trail 5 above other road-to-trail options is its superior performance on uneven, rooty, and rocky terrain. Flywire technology (super-strong, thin, and lightweight thread) in the upper kept our feet from sloshing around inside the shoe and helped us maintain quick, secure foot plants. “I felt confident in both the traction and how my feet remained in control on a burly trail with lots of rocks and ups and downs,” said a Boulder, Colorado, tester.
The cushioning is updated in this version to Nike’s smoothly responsive ReactX foam, with a stack soft and thick enough to soften pavement impact, especially under the forefoot. The shoe runs smoothly on roads with its flexible forefoot and 3.5 mm lugs that are hardly noticeable. But when you reach dirt those lugs kick into action and deliver solid traction.
Best Max-Cushioned Trail Running Shoe
Brooks Caldera 8
Buy Women’s Now $150 Buy Men’s Now $150
Weight: 10.6 oz (men’s), 9.3 oz (women’s)
Stack height: 38.5–32.5 mm
Drop: 6 mm
Sizes: men’s: 7-14, 15 (men’s); 5-11, 12 (women’s)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Comfort on long and short runs
⊕ Wide, stable base
⊕ Protective upper
⊗ Minimal ground feel
The midsole cushioning on the Brooks Caldera 8—a nitrogen-infused, EVA-based DNA Loft 3—is ample, while still lightweight. The Caldera 8 can feel like a lot underfoot, especially for lighter-weight runners, but testers said it successfully softened the ground impact of every step without wallowing in cush. Despite the massive stack height, flex grooves on the outsole help enable a smooth flowing stride. Aiding the Caldera’s forgiving nature is its wide silhouette that keeps it from being tippy, a large surface area for secure ground contact, and solid traction.
This year’s model features higher raised sidewalls to provide extra stability, and a smooth upper intended to evade snags from branches, both of which seem to work in our testing.
Best Trail Running Shoe with a Firm Ride
Scarpa Spin Ultra 2
Buy Women’s Now $180 Buy Men’s Now $180
Weight: 10.2 oz (men), 8.8 oz (women)
Stack Height: 28–24 mm
Drop: 4 mm
Sizing: EU 40-47, 48 (men’s), EU 36-43 (women’s)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Durable outsole, midsole, and upper construction
⊕ Nimble and cushioned ride
⊗ Runs narrow
The most notable update on the latest version is Scarpa’s debut use of Supercritical TPEE foam. This high-tech midsole material is created by injecting a gas into the foam and exposing it to extreme pressure and heat, creating bubbles that make the foam light and bouncy. While the Scarpa midsole is not as soft and trampoline-like as some of the supercritical foams we’ve tested, its firmer nature provides impressive durability, stability, and quick underfoot responsiveness.
One tester described the shoe as a “very stable, rugged trail runner, with minimal flex.” Another said, “The midsole cushions just enough to dampen impact without dulling the feel for and engagement with the trail, enhancing nimble footplants and springy toe-offs.”
Like a lot of European-made shoes, testers found the Spin Ultra 2 to fit rather tight, especially in the toe box. Once laced up, the recycled mesh upper with bio-based TPU print overlays doesn’t have much give, locking your foot securely in place. While it enhances stability on technical terrain, it may feel restrictive for runners who prefer a bit more wiggle room.